Trouble Afoot!: Sullivan and Rosen run like mad in Miller Landing 8K

Moving easily from track to cross country in just a week, Kevin Sullivan of Capital City Runners dominated the Miller Landing Madness 8K, running 25:54 to finish nearly half a kilometer ahead of runner-up Chris Lake (27:36). The 27 August 2011 race was run on the trails of Tallahassee's Phipps Park, located on Northwest Florida Water Management District lands in the hilly basin of Lake Jackson. Just seven days earlier Sullivan had run to victory in a track race, Gulf Winds Track Club's Breakfast On The Track Mile. The Canadian Olympian is just a road race win away from a distance running hat trick.

Behind Sullivan, Jay Wallace ran 28:29 to place fifth overall as the first master. Sheryl Rosen ran away from Kelly Stevens to successfully defend her 2010 women's title, 32:17 to 33:20. Kathy Andrews was the fastest woman master, finishing 42nd overall in 36:31.

Sullivan took command of the race soon after the start. After two kilometers he had a 40-meter lead, with Chris Lake heading the pursuit. Another 40 meters behind Lake, Stephen Cox and Vince Molosky vied for third. Sullivan moved steadily away from the field throughout the race, and was a minute and a half ahead halfway through the seventh kilometer. The runner in second at that point, though, was Cox. While Sullivan was running away with the race, Cox had dropped Molosky, caught Lake, and moved into second. He wasn't able to lose Lake, though, and with just over a kilometer and a half remaining Lake was just a few steps behind Cox. Over the last kilometer, while Sullivan went on to win, Lake fought past Cox to take second, 27:36 to 27:43.

After two kilometers of racing three women were in close contention for the women's title, with Katie Showman and Sheryl Rosen led by Kelly Stevens. Defending champ Rosen caught Stevens and by the end of the fourth mile was enjoying a lead of about twenty seconds. Rosen only got farther ahead over the last mile ultimately beating Stevens 32:17 to 33:20. Showman retained third, running 34:49 to finish about a minute ahead of fourth woman Micah Adriani at 35:50.

Top Ten Men, 2011 Miller Landing Madness 8K

25:54 ~ Kevin Sullivan (M, 37)
27:36 ~ Chris Lake (M, 23)
27:43 ~ Stephen Cox (M, 27)
28:20 ~ Vince Molosky (M, 32)
28:29 ~ Jay Wallace (M, 47)
28:57 ~ Gary Droze (M, 50)
30:43 ~ Douglas Bell (M, 42)
31:03 ~ Peter Kaus (M, 27)
31:19 ~ Michael Martinez (M, 45)
31:24 ~ Roger Schmidt (M, 20)

Top Ten Women, 2011 Miller Landing Madness 8K

32:17 ~ Sheryl Rosen (F, 27)
33:20 ~ Kelly Stevens (F, 29)
34:49 ~ Katie Showman (F, 29)
35:50 ~ Micah Adriani (F, 33)
36:31 ~ Kathy Andrews (F, 49)
36:48 ~ Kristine Cox (F, 34)
37:24 ~ Stephanie Liles-Weyant (F, 39)
38:19 ~ Stephanie Stout (F, 27)
39:07 ~ Christienne Coutts (F, 39)
39:10 ~ Mary Vancore (F, 47)

The 5K was run concurrently with the 8K. Five kilometers is the official high school cross-country distance in Florida, and the top finishers in the 5K were overwhelmingly local high school cross-country runners. Lincoln High senior Jacob Slupecki won the 3.1-mile race in 16:59, a considerable improvement on his 2010 Madness 5K time of 17:22. Former Florida A & M University cross-country runner Brian Griffith edged out Wakulla High senior Stanley Linton for the runner-up spot, 17:18 to 17:20. For the second year in a row Maclay's Stefanie Kurgatt was the first female in the 5K, successfully defending her title by outrunning her teammate Kristin Sweeney 20:14 to 20:51.

Top Ten Males, 2011 Miller Landing Madness 5K

16:59 ~ Jacob Slupecki (M, 18)
17:18 ~ Brian Griffith (M, 26)
17:20 ~ Stanley Linton (M, 17)
17:41 ~ Alexander Jared Artecona (M, 16)
17:43 ~ Travis Covert (M, 16)
18:15 ~ Joseph Garcia (M, 16)
18:47 ~ Hunter Scott (M, 15)
18:59 ~ Andrew Smyth (M, 24)
19:12 ~ Matt Antworth (M, 17)
19:13 ~ Jack Rutledge (M, 16)

Top Ten Females, 2011 Miller Landing Madness 5K

20:14 ~ Stefanie Kurgatt (F, 16)
20:51 ~ Kristin Sweeney (F, 16)
22:27 ~ Marty Wiedeman (F, 16)
22:34 ~ Naliyah Gilbert (F, 16)
22:39 ~ Elizabeth Santoro (F, 17)
23:18 ~ Kasey James (F, 14)
23:36 ~ Anica Sunshine (F, 16)
23:45 ~ Savana Osterbye (F, 15)
23:49 ~ Heather Hill (F, 15)
24:01 ~ Nicole Heinz (F, 15)

Just as five kilometers is the official high school cross-country distance, three kilometers is the official middle school cross-country distance. And as the 5K was full of high school runners, the 3K was loaded with middle school runners. Evan Francis of Raa Middle School won the event in 11:08, finishing nearly 200 meters ahead of runner-up James Dodson (2nd, 11:50) of Raa. Cheyenne Hildinger ran in a few steps ahead of Zoe Sheldon to finish as the first female, 12:59 to 13:04.

Top Ten Males, 2011 Miller Landing Madness 3K

11:08 ~ Evan Francis (M, 14)
11:50 ~ James Dodson (M, 13)
12:11 ~ Lane Williams (M, 15)
12:26 ~ Troy Monroe (M, 13)
12:31 ~ Adam Wallenfelz (M, 13)
12:45 ~ Shane Suchocki (M, 12)
12:51 ~ Jake Scott (M, 11)
12:57 ~ Rigel Aucutt (M, 11)
13:01 ~ Charlie Lang (M, 13)
13:02 ~ Josh Wallenfelz (M, 12)

Top Ten Females, 2011 Miller Landing Madness 3K

12:59 ~ Cheyenne Hildinger (F, 11)
13:04 ~ Zoe Sheldon (F, 12)
13:28 ~ Caroline Willis (F, 12)
13:29 ~ Molly Mccann (F, 12)
13:29 ~ Bridget Isenberg (F, 12)
13:54 ~ Katie Jones (F, 12)
13:57 ~ Katie Whitworth (F, 13)
14:00 ~ Katherine Resavage (F, 10)
14:31 ~ Alexis McElroy (F, 12)
14:45 ~ Sydney Aparicio (F, 12)

Miller Landing Madness Winners, 2008-2011
Date	Race	Men	Women
30 August 2008	8K	28:57 David Altmaier	32:49 Sheryl Rosen
	5K	17:12 Austin Stevens	18:46 Jana Stolting
	3K	11:21 Will Henderson	13:14 Autumn Wable
29 August 2009	8K	28:05 Chris Lake	33:03 Sarah Docter-Williams
	5K	18:17 Austin Stevens	18:17 Jana Stolting
	3K	11:26 Chase Harris	12:04 Cecelia Williams
28 August 2010	8K	26:28 Kevin Cook	33:29 Sheryl Rosen
	5K	17:15 Patrick Swain	19:22 Stefanie Kurgatt
	3K	11:14 Wil Luca	13:30 Madeline Horgan
27 August 2011	8K	25:54 Kevin Sullivan	32:17 Sheryl Rosen
	5K	16:59 Jacob Slupecki	20:14 Stefanie Kurgatt
	3K	11:08 Evan Francis	12:59 Cheyenne Hildinger
The Miller Landing Madness was preceded in history by the Miccosukee Madness (2004-2007) and the Tom Brown Bash (1977-2003) races.